Refrigerator with adjustable shelf



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REFRIGERATOR WITH ADJUSTABLE SHELF File d Feb. -1, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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Dec. 26, 1967 REFRIGERATOR WITH ADJUSTABLE SHELF- 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. '1, 1966 n mam T 1 N n :l Q Q W a y 7 .MIY/NNN Q\\ v W A v M wv rVyy r H26 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,360,322 REFRIGERATOR WITH ADJUSTAELE SHELF William A. Hanifan, Southfield, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,012 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-312) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In preferred form, a mechanically operated shelf adjusting system for a refrigerator including a refrigerator housing having a top opening to a storage compartment, a shallow machinery compartment below the refrigerator housing, a pair of telescoped shelf adjusting members in the refrigerator compartment, one supporting a shelf, the other fixed to the housing, a flexible chain link drive member guided within the fixed telescoped member and secured to the one member for moving it to adjust the shelf height, the flexible chain link member connected to means including a unidirectional motor actuatable to produce shelf adjustment.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a refrigerator apparatus having adjustable shelf members therein.

In the development of domestic refrigeration units, it is desirable to maintain the dimensional configurations of these units at a minimum While retaining a predetermined desired amount of space for the storage of articles to be cooled.

When accessory packages such as shelf adjusting systems are incorporated in such refrigerators, it is often difiicult to retain a maximum storage capacity therein. This problem is noticed especially in small portable re frigeration units of the type used in recreation rooms and the like. In this case, dimensional limitations in the outer housing are such that to obtain adequate storage capacity, it has been necessary to utilize only a minimum space for the machinery compartment devoted to the space required to accommodate a relatively simplified refrigerant compressing system.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to improve portable refrigerators and like apparatus by the provision therein of a shelf adjusting mechanism including a flexible chain link member and telescoping lift components operable to move shelves within a storage compartment of the unit while occupying a limited amount of space within the unit.

A further object of the present invention is to improve portable refrigerators and like apparatus of the type including an outer housing enclosing a space occupied primarily by storage compartments by the provision therein of a shedf adjusting mechanism including mechanical drive means with a chain link member and telescoping lift components to vertically adjustably locate a shelf within the storage compartment of the unit wherein the mechanical means for obtaining such movements utilizes means associated with the flexible chain link member for maintaining said flexible drive member in compression during a phase of the operation of the shelf adjusting mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to improve systems of the type set forth in the preceding object wherein the flexible drive member is a chain link member slidably rcciprocably movable with respect to a guide insert within a fixed member that has a movable member telescoped thereover and connected to the drive member for movement with respect to the fixed member into retracted and extended positions.

3,360,322 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 These and other objects are attained in the form shown in the illustrative embodiment of the invention which by summary, includes housing means forming a storage compartment having a top access opening thereto sealed by a movable top closure member and wherein the housing means forms a shallow space beneath the food storage compartment having mechanical means located therein for moving a flexible drive member from the machinery compartment into the food compartment and wherein within the storage compartment is located a pair of telescoped shelf adjusting members one of which receives the flexible drive member in guided relationship with respect thereto and the other of which is operatively connected to the flexible drive member to be driven thereby into retracted and extended position with respect to the drive member receiving one of the pair of telescoped members and wherein the top closure member is connected to the movable telescoped member so that it will be raised from said top opening by movement of said telescoped members to an extended position to provide access to the storage compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a portable refrigerator unit including the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in horizontal the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the shelf adjuster of the present invention; and,

FIGURE 9 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 a portable refrigerator unit 10 is illustrated including an outer casing 12 having side walls 14, 16, a front 18, a rear wall 20 and a top 22 with a primary access opening 24 therein closed by a movable top closure member 26 and a secondary access opening 28 therein closed by a removable closure member 30. The top access opening 24 communicates with a primary storage compartment 32 defined by an inner liner 34 located in spaced relationship with the side wall 14, front 18 and rear wall 20 and being insulated therefrom by thermal insulating material 36 disposed therebetween. The opening 28 communicates with a freezer compartment 38 defined by an inner liner 40 located in spaced relationship with the side wall 16, front 18, rear 20 and liner 34 being insulated therefrom by a layer of thermal insulating material 42. An internally located wall 44 serves to bound the insulating material 42, 36 interiorly of the cabinet 12 to define a machinery compartment 46 that extends as a shallow space 48 besection taken along neath the food storage compartment 32 at the bottom 1 with respect to a supporting floor.

Within the machinery compartment 46 is located a refrigerant compressor 52 that has its outlet connected by a conduit 54 to a condenser assembly 56 located adjacent the side wall 16 in alignment with a louvered air flow director 58 which directs cooling air into the machinery compartment 46 to pass over the condenser 56 for cooling refrigerant passing therethrough. From the condenser refrigerant passes through a conduit 58 thence through a refrigerant expansion means representatively shown as being an elongated capillary tube 60 which connects to an evaporator coil 62 located in conductive heat transfer relationship with liner 40. A second evaporator unit 64 is serially connected to evaporator 62 and located within a recess 66 formed in one of the side walls of the liner 34 in convective heat transfer relationship with the storage space 32. A conduit 68 connects the evaporator 64 in serial refrigerant flow relationship with the inlet of the compressor 52. In the illustrated arrangement a drip pan 70 is located at the bottom of the recess 66 to drain condensed moisture from the evaporator coil 64 through a drain tube 72 into a collector pan 74 located within the machinery compartment 46.

In accordance with certain principles of the present invention, in order to maintain a substantial portion of the space bounded by the outer housing 12 as storage space, and to maintain an easy access to all portions of the storage space bounded by the outer housing 12, an improved shelf adjusting assembly 75 is located within the outer housing 12. The assembly 75 is operated by a controller 76 on the front 18 to raise the top closure 26 and upper and lower shelves 80, 82 outwardly of the storage space 32 so that easy access is obtained through the top opening 24 in the outer housing 12 into the space 32 so that articles can be located on and removed from the shelves 80, 82.

More particularly, the assembly 75 comprises lift components representatively shown as including a cylindrical guide post 84 located centrally of the space 32 and being disposed vertically thereof. The post 84 is fixedly secured to the bottom of the liner 34 on an insert member 86 fixedly located between the liner 34 and the wall 44, as best illustrated in FIGURE 4. The post 84 has a movable cylinder 88 telescoped thereover and, as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 7, the lower end of the movable cylinder 88 has a guide ring 90 secured thereto by suitable fastening means such as screws 92 to locate radially inwardly directed tabs 94 of the ring 90 in guided relationship with elongated grooves 96 in the guide post 84, as best seen in FIGURE 7. In the illustrated arrangement, the lower shelf 82 has a central depending hub 98 thereon that seats on the heads of the screws 92 to support the shelf 82 on the movable cylinder 88. Similarly, the top shelf 80 has a depending central hub 100 thereon which seats on pins 102 secured to an inverted cup-shaped cap member 104 received over the upper end of the movable cylinder 88 and supported thereon for movement therewith. The upper end of the movable cylinder 88 is closed by a member 106 which is secured thereto. Pins 108, 110 are secured to and extend upwardly from the member 106 through the head of the cap member 104 into index openings 112, 114 in the top closure member 26 to interlock the shelf 80 against rotative movement with respect to the cylinder 88. A screw 115 fastens top closure member 26 to cap 104. By virtue of this arrangement, the top 26 is carried by the cylinder 88 with respect to the outer housing 12 but, if desired, the top 26 can be moved from the top opening 24 without movement of thecylinder 88.

One feature of the present invention is the manner in which the cylinder 88 is moved into retracted or extended positions with respect to the fixed guide post 84. The means for obtaining the extension and retraction of the telescoped members comprises a mechanical actuator utilizing a flexible drive member 116 made up of a plurality of links 118 having a first predetermined width joined to a second plurality of links 120 with a lesser width by rollers or pins 122 to form a chain link configuration with one end thereof connected by a pin 124 to one end of a chain link guide rod 126. An upper end of rod 126 is connected by a fastener 127 to the member 106 and thence to the top of the movable cylinder 88.

The guide rod 126, as best seen in FIGURE 9, has an H-shaped configuration with side wall portions 128, 130 slidably and guidably received within an opening 132 in an insert member 134 that is received within a guide tube 136 directed coaxially and longitudinally through guide post 84 in spaced relationship therewith. The upper end of tube 136 has an annular cap 137 thereon which fits into the upper end of post 84. The space between tube 136 and post 84 is packed with insulation material 139. The lower end of the tube 136 is directed through insert member 86 and is received within a fixed support member 138 which has a screw fastener 140 directed therethrough to hold the guide insert 134 with respect to the tube 136. The tube 136 has a side opening 142 therein which overlies a curved surface 144 formed in the lower end of the insert member 134. The surface 144 guides the flexible member 116 into and out of the opening 132 in the insert 134 so that the wide link members 118 of the flexible drive member 116 will overlie radially inwardly directed portions 146, 148 of the insert 134, as best seen in FIG- URE 7, to prevent side movement of the drive member 116 with respect to the insert 134. The portions 146, 148 also engage the rollers 122 in sliding relationship therewith to further guide the flexible drive member 116 as it is being moved into and out of the insert member 134.

The drive member 116 is driven by means including a sprocket 150 supported by a shaft 152 for rotation therewith. Fixed bearings 153, 154 support either end of shaft 152 (FIGURE 5) to locate the sprocket 150 for rotation so that teeth 156 on the sprocket 150 engage the chain track in spaces between the rollers 122 to drive the flexible drive member 116 into and out of the insert member 134. The flexible drive member 116 preferably is passed through a wrap of greater than 90 about the sprocket 150 thence passes through an upwardly directed guide passageway 158 in a loop guide member 160 and is returned downwardly through a curvilinear passageway 161 back on itself through a lower guide passageway 162 where the opposite end of the drive member 116 is connected to a cord 164 that, as best illustrated in FIGURE 3, is maintained under tension by an elongated spring 166 having one end thereof connected to a fixed member 168 and the opposite end thereof connected to a bracket 170 that rotatably supports a movable pulley 172.

The pulley 172 has a first pass 174 of the cord 164 passed thereover with the pass 174 being connected to a fixed member 176. From the pulley 172 the cord 164 passes about a second pulley 178 rotatably supported on a fixed member 180 thence about a pulley 182 rotatably supported on a fixed member 184 from whence the cord passes to be connected to the flexible drive member 116. By virtue of this arrangement, the spring member 166 will tension the flexible chain link against the drive sprocket 150 whereby the drive chain passes from the sprocket 150 and is moved therefrom by a cam surface 186 on the end of the insert member 134, into the opening 132 through the insert member 134.

The chain link guide and tensioning arrangement are characterized as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 as being located in a common plane within the shallow machinery compartment space 48 thereby occupying a limited part of the space bounded by the outer housing 12 of the refrigerator 10.

The sprocket 150 is driven by a power transmission 188, that likewise, is characterized by having a low profile with the component parts thereof being located substantially in a common plane within the shallow space 48. More particularly, the power transmission 188 includes a reciprocal rack 190 slidably received in a guide member 192 having an opening 194 formed therein into which a drive gear 196 connected to the shaft 152 is directed to drivingly engage teeth members 198 on the rack member 190. Beneath the rack member 190 is located a connecting link 200 having one end thereof pivoted to the end of the rack 190 at 202 and the opposite end thereof pivotally connected on the outer periphery of a driven gear 204 at 206. The driven gear 204 is supported rotatably by a shaft 208 on a frame member 210 and has teeth members 212 on the outer periphery thereof located in driving engagement with a spur gear 214 connected to a shaft 216 from a unidirectional drive motor 218 located within the machinery compartment 46.

Thus, when the controllers 76 are actuated, the motor 218 will rotate the driven gear 204 through the spur 214 so as to cause the link 200 to reciprocate the rack 190 within the guide 192 thereby driving the sprocket 150 through the drive gear 196. Following a predetermined travel of the rack 190 suitable limit switches 220, 222 will be engaged to terminate rotation of the sprocket 150.

The driven gear 204 and link 200 in the mechanical drive system constitute a crank wherein movement of the drive gear 204 from the position as illustrated in FIG- URE 3 to point where the pivot 206 is located diametrically opposite the illustrated position constitutes the opening phase of operation of the mechanism which is terminated by switch 220 engaging the rack 190. As the driven gear 204 is moved to return the pivot point 206 to its original position, the rack 190 is driven to cause the sprocket 150 to be rotated reversely so as to cause the chain link 116 to be withdrawn from the guide insert member 134 to cause the movable cylinder 88 to be moved into its retracted position so that the shelves 80, 82 will be positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 2. This movement is terminated by rack 190 engaging switch 222.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a compact portable refrigerator or like unit, the combination of a shelf adjuster mechanism comprising, a cylindrical member, a movable cylinder telescopingly received on said cylindrical member, an elongated flexible drive member located within said cylindrical member, means for securing one end of said drive member to said movable cylinder, means secured to the opposite end of said flexible drive member for reciprocating said drive member relative to said cylindrical member to cause said movable cylinder to move into extended and retracted positions with respect to said cylindrical member, means within said cylindrical member to prevent buckling of said flexible member whereby said flexible member is maintained in compression between said movable cylinder and said drive means during movement of said movable cylinder into an extended position with respect to said cylindrical member, said flexible member including a plurality of link members joined by rollers, said guide means including an insert within said cylindrical member having side wall portions thereon slidably engaging said rollers for maintaining said link members colinearly with the axis of said cylindrical member.

2. In a compact portable refrigerator or like unit, the combination of a shelf adjuster mechanism comprising, a cylindrical member, a movable cylinder telescopingly received on said cylindrical member, an elongated flexible drive member located within said cylindrical member, means for securing one end of said drive member to said movable cylinder, means secured to the opposite end of said flexible drive member for reciprocating said drive member relative to said cylindrical member to cause said movable cylinder to move into extended and retracted positions with respect to said cylindrical member, means within said cylindrical member to prevent buckling of said flexible member whereby said flexible member is maintained in compression between said movable cylinder and said drive means during movement of said movable cylinder into an extended position with respect to said cylindrical member, said flexible member including a plurality of link members interconnected by roller members to form a chain, rotatable means including a gear for driving said chain, means for holding said chain in tension against said gear including tensioning means located in a plane common to the plane of said gear.

3. In a compact portable refrigerator or like unit, the combination of a shelf adjuster mechanism comprising, a cylindrical member, a movable cylinder telescopingly received on said cylindrical member, an elongated flexible drive member located within said cylindrical member, means for securing one end of said drive member to said movable cylinder, means secured to the opposite end of said flexible drive member for reciprocating said drive member relative to said cylindrical member to cause said movable cylinder to move into extended and retracted positions with respect to said cylindrical member, means within said cylindrical member to prevent buckling of said flexible member whereby said flexible member is maintained in compression between said movable cylinder and said drive means during movement of said movable cylinder into an extended position with respect to said cylindrical member, said flexible member including a plurality of link members joined by rollers, said guide means including an insert within said cylindrical member having side walls portions thereon slidably engaging said roller members for maintaining said link members colinearly with the axis of said cylindrical member, certain of said link members having a greater width than other of said link members, said insert member having other side wall portions, said greater width link members being located in overlying juxtaposition with said other side wall portions to prevent a predetermined sidewise movement of said rollers with respect to said insert member.

4. In a compact portable refrigerator or like unit, the combination of a shelf adjuster mechanism comprising, a cylindrical member, a movable cylinder telescopingly received on said cylindrical member, an elongated flexible drive member located within said cylindrical member, means for securing one end of said drive member to said movable cylinder, drive means secured to the opposite end of said flexible drive member for reciprocating said drive member relative to said cylindrical member to cause said movable cylinder to move into extended and retracted positions with respect to said cylindrical member, means Within said cylindrical member to prevent buckling of said flexible member whereby said flexible member is maintained in compression between said movable cylinder and said drive means during movement of said movable cylinder into an extended position with respect to said cylindrical member, said flexible member including a plurality of link members joined by rollers to form a chain, said guide means including an insert within said cylindrical member having side wall portions thereon slidably engaging said rollers for maintaining said link members colinearly with the axis of said cylindrical member, said drive means including a rotatable member having a portion thereof drivingly engaging said chain, a reciprocal member in driving engagement with said rotatable member, a guide for said reciprocal member, and means including a unidirectional drive motor for producing relative reverse reciprocation of said reciprocal member with respect to said guide and reverse rotation of said rotatable drive member.

5. In a compact portable refrigerator or like unit, the combination of a shelf adjuster mechanism comprising, a cylindrical member, a movable cylinder telescopingly received on said cylindrical member, an elongated flexible drive member located within said cylindrical member, means for securing one end of said drive memher to said movable cylinder, means secured to the opposite end of said flexible drive member for reciprocating said drive member relative to said cylindrical member to cause said movable cylinder to move into extended and retracted positions with respect to said cylindrical member, means within said cylindrical member to prevent buckling of said flexible member whereby said flexible member is maintained in compression between said movable cylinder and said drive means during movement of said movable cylinder into an extended position with respect to said cylindrical member, said flexible member including a plurality of link members joined by rollers to form a chain, said guide means including an insert within said cylindrical member having side wall portions thereon slidably engaging said rollers for maintaining said link members colinearly with the axis of said cylindrical member, said insert being disposed coaxially of and through substantially the full length of said cylindrical member, said means for connecting one end of said flexible member to said movable cylinder including a chain link rod directed into said insert and slidably reciprocably movable with respect thereto, said insert having a recess formed in one side thereof for guiding said chain outwardly of said insert at the opposite end thereof through a predetermined curvilinear path, a drive sprocket disposed within said recess in said insert having teeth thereon disposed in driving engagement with rollers of said chain, said sprocket being rotatable to drive said chain through said curvilinear path and into and out of said insert.

6. In a compact portable refrigerator or like unit, the combination of a shelf adjuster mechanism comprising, a cylindrical member, a movable cylinder telescopingly received on said cylindrical member, an elongated flexible drive member located within said cylindrical member, means for connecting one end of said drive member to said movable cylinder, means secured to the opposite end of said flexible drive member for reciprocating said drive member relative to said cylindrical member to cause said movable cylinder to move into extended and retracted positions with respect to said cylindrical member, means within said cylindrical member to prevent buckling of said flexible member whereby said flexible member is maintained in compression between said movable cylinder and said drive means during movement of said movable cylinder into an extended position with respect to said cylindrical member, said flexible member including a plurality of link members joined by rollers to form a chain, said guide means including an insert within said cylindrical member having side wall portions thereon slidably engaging said rollers for maintaining said link members colinearly with the axis of said cylindrical member, said insert being disposed coaxially of and through substantially the full length of said cylindrical member, said means for connecting one end of said flexible member to said movable cylinder including a chain link rod directed into said insert and slidably reciprocally movable with respect thereto, said insert having a recess formed in one side thereof for guiding said chain outwardly of said insert at the opposite end thereof through a predetermined curvilinear path, a drive sprocket disposed within said recess in said insert having teeth thereon disposed in driving engagement with rollers of said chain, said sprocket being rotatable to drive said chain through said curvilinear path and into and out of said insert, means for maintaining said chain in tension with said sprocket, said means including spring means connected to an end of said chain disposed exteriorly of said curvilinear portion of said insert at a point to produce greater than a ninety degree wrap of said chain about said sprocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,577,040 3/1926 Larson.

1,676,108 7/ 1928 Novak 3 123 12 1,807,914 6/1931 Hopkins.

2,017,300 3/1935 Wiesman 25488 2,478,145 8/1949 Weber 312312 2,490,861 12/1949 Dunlap 312312 X 2,806,562 9/ 1957 Harman.

3,065,037 '11/1962 Chapman 3123l2 X JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A COMPACT PORTABLE REFIGERATOR OR LIKE UNIT, THE COMBINATION OF A SHELF ADJUSTER MECHANISM COMPRISING, A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, A MOVABLE CYLINDER TELESCOPINGLY RECEIVED ON SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE DRIVE MEMBER LOCATED WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING ONE END OF SAID DRIVE MEMBER TO SAID MOVABLE CYLINDER, MEANS SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE DRIVE MEMBER FOR RECIPROCATING SAID DRIVE MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER TO CAUSE SAID MOVABLE CYLINDER TO MOVE INTO EXTENDED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, MEANS WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER TO PREVENT BUCKLING OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER WHEREBY SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER IS MAINTAINED IN COMPRESSION BETWEEN SAID MOVABLE CYLINDER AND SAID DRIVE MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE CYLINDER INTO AN EXTENDED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LINK MEMBERS JOINED BY ROLLERS, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING AN INSERT WITHIN SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER HAVING SIDE WALL PORTIONS THEREON SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID ROLLERS FOR MAINTAINING SAID LINK MEMBERS COLINEARLY WITH THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER. 